Stacking device



Sept. 22, 1936. J, 14-) PETERS 2,054,831

STACKING DEVICE Filed Sept. 17, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTC R P 1936- J. F. PETERS 7 2,054,831

, STACKING DEVICE Fil ed Sept. 1'7, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 22, 1936. J PETERS 2,054,831-

STACKING DEVI'GE Filed Sept. 1'7, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 0 INVENTOR 9% 7 BY j v 5 W ATTOR'N Patented Sept. 22, 1936 UNITED STATES STACKING DEVICE John F. Peters, Leonia, N. J., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a. corporation of New Jersey Application September 17, 1931,.Serial No..563,321v

15 Claims.

The present invention relates to a stacking apparatus and has particular reference to an apparatus adapted to receive blanks or'other similar articles from a source of continuous supply, as

5-' from a forming, cutting or blanking machine, and arranging the blanks in stacked formation in a' magazine.

The principal object of. the invention is the provision of an apparatus of simple and-novel design for receiving blanks or other flat-.sidedarticles in successive, untimed order and arranging them in-stacked formation within a magazine.

An important object of the invention is the pro-vision of an apparatus of the character described wherein the blanks as they are successively received from the source of supply are initially advanced toward the magazine by a feeding device and are then engaged; transferredand freed from the action of the primary'feeding 2 means and stacked in the magazine so as to avoid scratching or unnecessary rubbing of the blanks.

An important object of the invention is the pro-- vision of holding or retaining elements connected with an apparatus ofthe character described wherein the-blanks, after being positioned inthe magazine are retained invertical stacked position and are prevented'from moving backward or interfering with further movements of succeeding blanks. 7

Numerous other objects of the invention will be apparent as it is betterunderstood from. the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying the present invention, parts being broken. away and parts being shown in section;

- Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation of the stack- 41 ing mechanism as applied to the machine disclosed'in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one of the stacking devices, as viewed substan-- tially along theline 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken sub stantially along the broken line 4-4 in Fig. 3';

Fig. 5Iis a longitudinal sectional view: taken along the line 5'-5 in Fig. 3;

Figs. 6; 7, and 8 aretransverse sectional views 'b'ltaken at different positions through the stack-- ing apparatus, illustrated in Fig. 3, these-sectional views being taken substantially along the broken lines 6 '6, l1, and 8-B-of that figure; and

t Fig: 9 is' a: transverse sectional detail; taken sub- 55? stantiallyalongthe-line 99 'in Fig. 1.

A preferred form" .of apparatus for exemplifying the present invention: is illustrated in the drawings as. comprising stacking devices con nected to a machine for producing a succession of flat-sid'edarticles. These stacking. devices are 5 particularly adapted to stacking end or recoverypiecesor blanks as produced in scroll shears or blanking presses and, accordingly, suflicient of the principalworkingparts of; such a machine are shown. Such a press, in addition to the usual 10' strip forming scroll: shear dies, also uses cutting dies for operating at the side edgesof the sheet asfed through the shear dies-and a fiat recovery end blank is produced at each side of the press. 7 at. each operating stroke; The devices or stack ing apparatusreferred to, oneat each side of: the press, receive and stack: these: blank pieces.

Each stacking apparatus receives its blank from an inclined chuteinto the upper end of which the cut blanksafallfrom the diesand through which they move; down by gravity. A- helical screw or conveyorrispreferably embodied in each device andthe. blank passing from the lower end of the chute moves into the upper zone .of the screw which engages and advances. it at right angles and in.- upright position toward. the receiving and stacking magazinelassociated therewith.

Each helical: screw is rotated at a constant speed and as successive blanks reach the discharge endof the screw, an auxiliary feeding device comes into operation. Such a device em-- bodies-a pusher which moves forward at a greater speed of travel than the advancing blank after it has been brought. down; in position behind a blank. This rapidly-advancing pusher thereupon engages the blank. at its. rear and. forces it from the. end of the. screw,.depositiri. 1 it into the magazine.

Holding devices aredisposed onopposite sides of. the. entrance.- of; the magazine and. these are J engaged and. depressed by the blanks as they enter the. mouth of the magazine. The blanks are forced just beyondthese stop members which snap into position. back of the rearmost blank. and; prevent its backwardv or return movement at thesame time holding it out of engagement with-the-end'of the helical:screw. This prevents scratching or bending of theblank by the screw and at the same time. allowsthe proper placing of successive blanks into their stacked position.

At the forward end of the magazine ayielding or slideable finger is used'to rest against the front face of the stack and hold the blanks at that. region of the magazine. This finger slides along a rod underthe' resistance of a friction brake,'55

thus maintaining a solid stacked condition within the magazine.

A scroll shear press capable of providing a continuous supply of blanks for the stacking devices may comprise a table 2| over which sheets 22 of tinplate or other suitable material are advanced. The usual feeding mechanism for this purpose may be used and since it forms no part of the present invention it is omitted from both drawings and description. Table 2! is secured at its forward end to a frame 23 mounted on side frames 24, the table being partly carried by a rear frame 25. for these frame parts. The frame 23 is joined with the usual yoke frame 21 having slideways or grooves 28 in which the usual movable'slide 29 operates.

The regular strip cutting members willnot be considered, it being understood that operations of that character may be performed as desired. Stationary cutting dies 3! for producing the recovery end blanks are roughly indicated in Fig. 1, these being carried in the frame 23 and disposed in the path of travel of the sheets 22 as they move through the shear press. These dies 3! cooperate with movable punch members 32 carried on the slide 29 and produce end or recovery pieces 35, there being a blank 35 cut from each side of the sheet during each regular shearing operation.

Chutes 33 are provided and located adjacent the sides of the shearing press, each chute being secured at its upper end by a bracket 31 projected inwardly from a side frame 23 and at its lower end by a suitable bracket 38 similarly mounted. An inclined plate 34 guides the end piece 35 in the top of the chute. A separate stacking unit 4! is located on each side of the machine, its entrance end communicating with the delivery end of its associated chute.

The movement. of blanks into and through each stacking device, is in the same direction, this being toward the left as viewed in Fig. 2. This arrangementenables one operator on that side of the machine to remove blanks from both devices. The two stacking units 4| are disposed on different levels (Fig. 1) and are located in different vertical positions so that interference between stacks is avoided.

The stacking units are identical in construction, the only variation between them relating to their location and to the supports for various parts thereof.

A magazine 45 constitutes apart of each stacking unit and is formed by a pair of spaced angle irons or rails 46, 41 which have lower legs 48,49 (Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 8) extending inwardly toward each other, these lower legs being located within thesame plane.

The magazine rails are mounted upon bent projecting arms 5! carried by the base 26. Side walls 52, 53 formed in the respective angle irons constitute lateral guiding elements for the blanks 35 when in the magazine. Rounded supporting ridges 54, 55 formed in the rail 46 and a ridge 56 formed in the rail 31? provide a three-point support for each blank. This insures more precise stacking position.

As a blank 35 is cut from a sheet, it falls upon and into its inclined chute 33 positioned directly beneath being guided by the plate 34 (Fig. 9). Each blank 35 as out is turned into a vertical position by engagement with an inclined surface 33 of the die 3! and slides downwardly into a helical screw conveyor 59 mountedat the right- A base 25 provides a unit support hand end (as viewed in Fig. 2) of its associated magazine 45. Each screw has a continuous tapered helical wall 6| carried on a horizontal shaft 63. The smaller diameter of the screw is first engaged and as the blank advances laterally more wall surface comes into contact with the blank giving it increased support as it approaches the mouth of the magazine.

Each shaft 33 is directly journaled in a bearing 3 and indirectly journaled in a bearing 65 both bearings being formed in a frame 51 car- 'ried on the projecting end of a bracket 53 formed integrally with the frame 25. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the feeding position of each blank 35 within the screw is with its bottom edge at an angle to thehorizontal and above the horizontally disposed shaft 63 along which it moves.

Shaft 63 and the helical screw 59 are continually rotated by a sprocket 66 (Figs. 3 and 5) secured to the shaft adjacent the bearing 64. A

chain 61 operates over this sprocket 6G and also over a sprocket 68 (Fig. 2) carried on a horizontal shaft 353 journaled in bearings H formed in the rear frame 25. Since there are two shafts 63 and two sprockets 33, one for each magazine, there are two corresponding sprockets 68 and two chains 31. The two sprockets 38 are both mounted upon the single shaft 69. The shaft 69 may be continually rotated from the driving parts of the scroll shear press, a sprocket (see also Fig. 1) being mounted on the end of the shaft for this purpose. A chain l3 operates over the sprocket i5 and also over a sprocket 11 mounted on a drive shaft 18 journaled in bearings I9 formed in the side frames 2a. Suitable rotation of the drive shaft 78 may be imparted through the intermediacy of a drive pulley 3! mounted on one end of the shaft.

Each spaced section ofthe wall 6| of the helical screw is sufficiently close, to an'adiacent section to retain each blank 35 in substantially vertical P sition, the rail 46, which is projected in front of the magazine, assisting in holding the blank as it advances longitudinally of the shaft 63. In such position it moves into theentrance end of the magazine, the last section 54, 55, 56 of the angle irons 43, 41. The blank is thereupon engaged by a pusher device which will now be described.

The pusher device comprises a plate 9| mounted on the forward end of a stud 92 carried in the outer end of an arm 93 having both longitudinal and up and down or rocking movement. The arm 93 is rocked back as a blank 35 passes along the helical conveyor and in such position its plate 3| is held above and out of the path of travel of the blank. When rocked in the reverse direction the arm 93 moves its plate downwardly and in back of the blank 35 (Fig. 4). The arm 93 now begins its longitudinal movement parallel to the axis of the shaft 63 and this action carries the plate 9i with its engaged blank toward the left (Fig. 3).

The arm 93 (Figs. 3, 6, and 7) is secured to one end of a horizontally disposed shaft 94which extends through a slide block 95 in which it oscillates. This block is carried by and has sliding movement relative to an extension 96 of the frame 57. The slide block 95 is formed with lateral projections 31 which are engaged by shouldered guide plates 38 secured to the frame part 93 by bolts 99.

The block 95 is moved back and forth within its guideways by connection with an actuating cam, best illustrated in Fig. 3. The upper ceni cam surface I22 of the cam I2I.

The cam I 2| (Figs, 3 and 5). has an integral for oscillation on a shouldered stud H5 thread-:

edly. engaging the frame 51. The opposite end of the lever I I4 carries a stud II 6 upon which a cam roller II1 is 'rotatably mounted.

A barrel cam I2I (Figs. 3 and 5') is provided with a cam face I22 against which the cam roller H1 is adapted to operate. A floating guide pin I25 (see also Fig. 6) is pivotally connected at I26 to the lever- H4 and has sliding movement within a plate I21 bolted to the side of the frame.

51. A spring I 28.is mountedon the pin I25 and is interposed between the lever I I4 and the plate I21. This springyieldingly holds the lever in proper position so that its roller I I1 engages the sleeve part whichextends adjacent its cam face side to provide a tubular section I'4I. Sprocket teeth I42 are formed along the opposite edge of the cam and these provide a driving connection for rotating the cam. This cam with its tubular extension I M is loosely mounted on an extended end section of the screw shaft63, providing the intermediate bearing for-the shaft in the bearing 65. Y

A cam I45 is mounted on a reduced end of the sleeve section I4I outside of the bearing 65, and is held in fixed adjusted position by a set screw I46. This cam I45 controls a timed, oscillation movement. of the shaft 94 and its arm 93 as will be'presently described.

The cams I2I, I45 are continually rotated by chain connection with the sprocket teeth I42, a chain I5I (Fig. 2) operating over the sprocket teeth for this 'purpose. This chain'I5I (Fig. 2)

also operates over a sprocket I53 secured to the shaft 69. Since each magazine has its own cam drive and cam teeth I42, there are also two sprockets I 53. r 7

It will be observed by reference to Figs; 3 and 5 that the sprockets 66, I42 are of different sizes. This is for the purpose of effecting a different rate of rotation between the shaft 63 with its helical feed screw 59 and the cams I2I, I45. The propelling rate of travel of a blank carried in the helical screw is relatively slower than the propelling movement of the pusher plate 9| which means that the blanks are quickly removed from the influenceof the screw and placed into the mouth of the magazine. This prevents scratching orbending of. the blanks. I

The oscillation of the shaft 94- and its arm 93 under the control of the cam I45 is efiected by a combination of loose connections, best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6. One end of the shaft 94 beyond the slide 95 is formed into a square projecting section I55 which extends througha tubular sleeve I56. This sleeve can oscillate within a bearing I51, formed in a housing I58 which is secured by screws I59 to a side wall of the frame 51. The sleeve I56 is shouldered inside of the housing I58. This shoulder engages the bearing I51 and cooperating witha collar I69.

stud I66. carried by .the housing I58. The opposite end of the lever I65 is. also bifurcated as at I61 and 'a' roller I68 is 'rotatably mounted therein; This roller I58 normally engagesthe peripheral cam wall of the cam I45.

The housing I58 is formed with a tubular extension I1I in which a'slide pin I12 is located.-

The inner end of the'pin engages a shoulder I13 also formed'in thehead I6I of the sleeve I56. This pin extends through a tubular bore I15 formed in the extension, this bore being sufiiciently large to provide a sliding fit foran en-' 'larged collar section I16 formed adjacent the inner end of the pin. The pin I12 slides freely inand out but is prevented from turning on its axis withinthe bore by a spring pressed button I86 is preferably pinned to. the outer end of the pin I12.

' A stop sleeve I81 is disposed on the pin I 12 and inside of the spring I83 and forms a limit stop for the pin collar I16 to limitoutward movement of the pin.

The spring I83 forces the pin I12 inwardly and holds it. against the shoulder I13 of the headIBI; This spring operating through the parts I6I,' I65 holds the roller I68 against the cam I45. As the high section of the cam engages the roller I68 the lever I65 is oscillated about its pivot center and rocks the sleeve I56 correspondingly so that the shaft 94- is oscillated within its slide 95. This rocking movement of the'shaft lifts the plate 9| out of the pathof travel of the blanks (see dotted line position in Fig. 7). As the high section of the cam passes the roller I68 and its low section comes opposite, the spring I83 causes a reversed rocking movement of the parts just described and the plate 9I is moved from the dotted line position (Fig. '7) into the full line position. In'this latter position the plate 9| is directly behind an advancing blank 35. Upon forward movement of the slide. 95 through the influence of its cam I2I, the plate engages the blank,re'-

III

moves it from the helical screw andv positions it into the magazine.

The holding devices for preventing return movement of a blank when the pusher plate 9| leaves it in the magazine are illustrated in detail in Figs. 3 and 8. These comprise spring pressed buttons I9I, each button'having an inclined face I92. Each button is slideably held within a barrel- I99v one barrel being inserted in an opening in the side wall52 of the rail 46, the other barrel being similarly mounted directly opposite in the wall '53 of the rail 41. An enlarged head I94 formed on the button I9I normally rests against an inner wall of the barrel and limits the projection of the inclined end projecting in the path of blanks as r they are brought therein. A spring I95 held within the barrel I83 by a screw nut I96 extends within a bore I91 in the button and provides the yielding element for that member.

'As ablank 35 is moved forward by the pusher plate-9|, it engages the inclined faces I92 of the yielding buttons I9I pushing them back to permit passage of the blank whereupon the spring- I95 of each button returns it into projected and blank holding position. More than one blank 35 may come into the action of the helical screw 59 during two successive forward movements of the plate 9|. Two or more blanks depending on how they come from the feed chute may therefore reach the entrance end of a magazine before engagement and removal by its pusher plate. This variation, however, presents no difliculty and whatever blanks are in position will be stacked with each forward movement of the plate 91.

Provision is made for holding the stack of blanks 35 in proper stacked position within each magazine regardless of the actual number in the magazine at a given time. For this purpose the foremost blank within the magazine is engaged by a finger 23! (Figs. 3 and 4) which extends into the magazine and which is formed with a hub 2G2 adapted for sliding movement along a. bar 203 carried in brackets 204 (see also Fig. 2) mounted upon plates 205, secured to the bottom leg 48 of an angle iron 46.

In the beginning of the stacking operation the finger 20! and its hub 202 are arranged at the right-hand side (Fig. 2) of the magazine, this being adjacent the mouth of the magazine. As the blanks 35 begin to accumulate in the magazine, the foremost blank moves against the finger 20I and thereafter with each advance of the blanks, finger and hub move toward the left, the latter sliding on the bar 203. It is the incoming blanks that cause this movement and, therefore, the combined holding action of the finger 20I and the stop buttons l9l preserves a smooth and uniform stack. An operator can remove any quantity of blanks at any time without requiring any cessation in stacking.

A friction device is provided in each magazine for preventing an uncontrolled or too rapid sliding movement of the finger 2i relative to its associated rod 203. This comprises a pipe 203 (Figs. 3 and 4) threadedly engaged at '20'l'within the hub 202. This pipe projects upwardly at an angle and provides a housing for a friction pin 208 slidably disposed within the pipe and held under the yielding action of a spring 239 so that one end of the pin frictionally engages the rod 203. A set screw 2i i is threadedly engaged within the upper end of the pipe and holds the spring under proper compression preventing displacement of spring and pin. With this frictional feature the finger is easily moved by hand or by the blanks but at other times remains in place.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, or sacrificing all of its'material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a. preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A blank stacking mechanism comprising in combination a magazine, feeding means for conveying single blanks in succession toward said magazine, a pusher device for removing said nation of a magazine, a rotating helical screw for conveying blanks in spaced upright position toward said magazine, a reciprocating pusher device for engaging behind a said blank as it is conveyed by said screw and moving it into said magazine, means for moving the pusher device into and out of the path of the blanks and holding devices disposed in said magazine for engaging behind a blank as advanced by said pusher device and holding it in upright position within said magazine.

3. In a blank stacking mechanism the combination of a'magazine, a rotating helical screw for conveying blanks in spaced upright position toward said magazine, a reciprocating pusher device for engaging behind a said blank as it is conveyed by said screw and moving it into said magazine, and actuating means for swinging said pusher into pushing position behind a blank, for then moving it with the blank toward said magazine, thence swinging it away from said blank and out of the path of travel of a succeeding advancing blank in said helical screw and finally returning it back to position for subsequent blank engagement on succeeding blanks.

4. In a blanking machine having a plurality of pairs of cutting dies for severing blanks from opposite sides of a sheet and provided with stacking mechanism comprising, a magazine associated with each pair of dies, a narrow inclined chute leading from a said pair of dies toward an associated magazine and holding said blanks on edge, and feeding means connecting with each chute for successively conveying blanks therefrom and for placing them in stacked formation within its associated magazine.

5. ma blanking machine having a plurality of pairs of cutting dies for severing blanks from cpposit-e sides of a sheet and provided with stacking mechanism comprising, a magazine associated with each pair of dies, a chute leading from a said pair of dies toward its associated magazine, said chute being narrow and inclined and holding the blanks on edge, and feeding means connecting with each chute for successively conveying blanks therefrom, and a pusher device associated with each magazine for removing said blanks from said feeding means and placing them in stacked formation within the magazine.

6. In a blanking machine having a plurality of pairs of cutting dies for severing blanks from opposite sides of a sheet and provided with stacking mechanism comprising, a magazine located on each side of the machine, a narrow inclined chute leading from each pair of cutting dies toward a said magazine, said chute being arranged transverse to the magazine and feeding means connected with each chute for successively conveying blanks into the magazines by causing them to travel in the same direction and both toward the same side of the machine.

7. In a blanking machine having a plurality of pairs of cutting dies for severing blanks from opposite sides of a sheet and provided with stacking mechanism comprising, a magazine associated with said dies, .a narrow inclined chute leading from said dies toward said magazine, and feeding means connected with said chute and operating transversely to the chute and in line with the magazine for successively conveyingblanks therefrom and for placing them in stacked formation within said magazine.

' 8. A blank stacking mechanism having in combination a magazine for receiving the blanks in stacked arrangement, a pusher for advancing blanks in said magazine, a helical conveyer hav- 10. A blank stacking mechanism comprising in combination a magazine, feeding means including a narrow inclined chute, -a helical screw having a wall and operating in a direction crosswise of said chute for conveying single blanks in succession toward said magazine, and a pusher device for moving said blanks away from the discharge end of said screw and for placing them in stacked formation within said'magazine, and means for operating the screw and pusher device in timed relation. 7

11. In a blanking machine having cutting mechanism for severing blanks from sheet material, a stacking mechanism, comprising, in combination: a magazine, feeding means including a rotating helical screw conveyer having a wall, and arranged between said cutting mechanism and said magazine, for conveying blanks in progressive order toward said magazine and for placing them in stacked formation, an inclined chute leading to said screw in a direction sidewise to the axis of the screw, yielding holding devices for engaging the stacked blanks and preventing their movement out of said magazine, a pusher device for moving the said blanks away from the discharge end of the said screw and into said holding device, and means for operating the screw and pusher device in timed relation.

12. In a cutting machine wherein blanks are cut from a sheet at each side thereof, the combination of an inclined chute at each side of said machine, magazines leading from the delivery ends of said chutes respectively and thence to one side of the machine and having their delivery ends at the same side of the machine, helical stacking conveyers receiving blanks from said chutes respectively, and pushers operating on the blanks respectively delivered by said conveyers to cause the stacks of blanks to progress through said magazines.

13. In a blanking machine having a plurality of pairs of cutting dies for severing blanks from opposite sides of a sheet arranged in substantially level position, and provided with a stacking mechanism comprising a chute for receiving blanks from said dies and inclined backward toward the feeding end of the machine, a magazine extend-- ing sidewise under the machine from the lower end of said chute, and a screw conveyor having its wall arranged to propel blanks sidewise from said chute and endwise of said magazine.

14. In a blanking machine having cutting dies for severing blanks from a sheet arranged in substantially level position, a stacking mechanism comprising, a chute for receiving blanks from said dies and inclined backward toward the feeding end of the machine, a magazine extending sidewise under the machine from the lower end of said chute, and a screw conveyor having its wall arranged to propel blanks sidewise from said chute and endwise of said magazine, and a pusher operating in the magazine in the same direction as said screw conveyor.

15. In a blanking machine having a plurality of pairs of cutting dies for severing blanks from opposite sides of a sheet arranged in substantially level position, a stacking mechanism comprising, magazines extending across the machine, chutes having walls arranged to receive and hold the blanks standing on their edges as they come from said dies and delivering the blanks to said magazines, and helical conveyors having walls arranged substantially parallel with the walls of the chutes and operating on said blanks.

JOHN F. PETERS. 

